Will of John Blake formerly belonging to the King's Ship Hector but late belonging to the King's Ship Ipswich, beyond sea of Saint Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, Surrey - The National Archives PROB 11/409, probated 5 May 1741

The testator John Blake is married to Anne. I did not find a Blake family at St Mary Bermondsey, Surrey.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 28 Apr 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/409
Name of testator: John Blake
Place: formerly belonging to the King’s Ship Hector but late belonging to the King’s Ship Ipswich, beyond sea of Saint Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, Surrey
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 23 Sep 1727, probated 5 May 1741

[In margin]: Testament: John Blake

1    Or Sea as it shall please God to
2    order and as for and concerning all my Worldly Estate I
3    give bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth That is to say
4    All and singular such wages sum and sums of Money lands
5    Tenements Goods Chattels and Estate whatsoever as shall be
6    any ways due owing or belonging unto me at the time of my
7    decease I do give devise and bequeath the same unto my
8    loving wife Anne Blake of the parish of St Leonard Shoreditch
9    And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Wife Anne
10    Blake Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby
11    revoking all former and other Wills Testaments and deeds
12    of Gift by me at any time heretofore made And I do ordain
13    and ratify these presents to stand and be for and as my only
11    last Will and Testament In Witness whereof to this my
15    said Will I have set my hand and Seal the Twenty third
16    day of September Anno domini 1727 And in the first Year of
17    the Reign of his Majesty King George the second over
18    Great Britain etc John Blake Signed sealed and published
19    in the presence of Mary Beers Nevill Evans Geo:
20    Thompson under the Exchange Cornhill Not Pub 1727
21    5th May 1741
22    On which day appeared personally Anne Blake
23    Widow Relict of John Blake late of the parish of Saint
24    Mary Magdalen Bermondsey in the County of Surry
25    formerly belonging to the King’s Ship the Hector but at
26    his death belonging to the King’s Ship the Ipswich beyond
27    Sea deceased and also sole Executrix named in the last Will
28    and Testament of the said deceased part of which is hereunto
29    annexed bearing date on the Twenty third day of September
30    in the Year of our Lord 1727 and by virtue of her corporal
31    oath deposed That he the said John Blake the Testator did on
32    or about the said Twenty third day of September 1727 duly
33    execute his said last Will and Testament and afterwards
34    delivered the same whole and entire to this deponent who
35    hath had the custody thereof ever since That the said
36    deceased between two and three years since went a voyage
37    to Sea and after the said deceased was gone this Deponent
38    looked for the said Will of the said deceased and found the
39    same in a Chest of drawers wherein she herself had put
40    and always kept the same that she then perceived that the
41    upper part or beginning of the said Will was torn off as the
42    same now appears and which she believed was done in the
43    Removal of the deceased Goods from one house to another
44    And this deponent saith that she hath made diligent search
45    for the said top or beginning of the said Will but cannot find
46    the same and she further saith that she believes the said
47    paper hereunto annexed is the true last Will and Testament
48    of the said deceased for that she verily believes that he never
49    made any other Will since he executed the paper writing
50    hereunto annexed Ann Blake On the same day the said
51    Ann Blake was sworn to the Truth of the above affidavit
52    before me Robt Chapman Surrogate
53    This Will was proved at London on the fifth day
54    of May in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred
55    and Forty one Before the Worshipfull Henry Edmunds doctor
56    of Laws Surrogate to the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth
57    also doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
58    Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted By the
59    Oath of Ann Blake Now the Relict of the deceased and
60    sole Executrix named in the said Will To whom was granted
61    Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits
62    of the said deceased being first sworn duly to administer the same

Will of Edward Blake, Plumber and Glazier, Walcot, Somerset - Somerset Record Office, B744, 152/639

Edward Blake, Plumber, Walcot is the testator of the will to follow. There have been a couple of wills for this family blogged and I have had the assistance of one of the descendants of the Blake family at Walcot. Thank you very much to him for adding to the history of this Blake line.

Looking at Mary Mason’s website http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/wills.htm

I found a list Index of Somerset Wills 1812-1837

Code  Name  Year  Place  Trade  Box/Folio

B743  Blake Ann  1831  Ashbrittle  Widow  07/897

B744  Blake Edward  1836  Walcot  Plumber  152/639

B745  Blake Hannah  1838  Compton Dundon  Widow  152/101

B746  Blake James  1845  Bedminster  Gent.  208/244

B747  Blake Joan  1828  Bicknoller  Widow  73/750

B748  Blake John  1833  Bath  Publican  113/190

B749  Blake John  1846  Nether Stowey  Innkeeper  216/339

B750  Blake John  1853  Nether Stowey  Yeoman  254/696

B751  Blake Richard  1842  Winsford  Yeoman  184/1046

B752  Blake Robert  1814  Minehead  Gent  9/500

B753  Blake Robert  1857  Combe St. Nicholas  Yeoman  271/1200

B754  Blake Susannah  1823  Wiveliscombe  Spinster  45/692

B755  Blake Thomas  1824  Compton Dundon  Lab.  48/314

which included the will of Edward Blake 1836 at Walcot Plumber in Box/Folio 152/639. Possibly there is a slight error as Edward wrote his will in 1837.

When I check the Somerset Record Office site they refer to two indexes both of which I have on fiche. I need to extract the Blake information from those indexes.

Returning to the Will of Edward Blake written 14 October 1837. In his will he mentions his brother John and his two daughters Elizabeth Jennings (deceased) and Emma Keyes.

I did find a burial for Emma Keyes (infant 14 months) at Walcot 10 Feb 1837 buried at St Swithin. No parents were named. There was also a burial for Elizabeth Jennings 19 Feb 1835 at the age of 42 buried at St Swithin Walcot (year of birth circa 1793). No other details available.

My contact has mentioned to me that Edward Blake was born circa 1759 and lived until 1838 (Free BMD lists him as dying in March quarter 1838). My contact has read through the parish records for Wootton Basset, Wiltshire and found that Edward Blake (senior) had three sons George, Robert and John (from two marriages) but a son Edward is not shown in the registers. More on that later.

I have already transcribed the will for George Blake, Plumber at Walcot.

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-george-blake-plumber-and.html

George mentions only his wife Hester by name and his children as minors. His will was probated 3 Apr 1829. I mention that I was unable to find Hester in the census in this blog and my correspondent kindly supplied that information in an earlier email:

“I visit your site from time to time and I see you have reached my "Walcot Plumbers"  - George, Edward, & Hester etc etc.
You say no sign of Hester in 1841 - she's a widow so look in Cricklade with her daughter Mary Lansdown and in 1851 she's back in Walcot as a lodger in the home of Anthony Summer. She died 22/12/1857.  If you pursue this family in Walcot/Bath it is inevitable sooner or later you will meet the brick wall - I have and others have as well. The secret is :- although they are very much Bath people right through the 19th cent prior to this, George Blake (husband of Hester) was born in Wootton Bassett  in Wiltshire.  In fact there were Blakes there way back to the 1700's - in the 1702 census there were five Blake families there. Basically, there were two branches of Blakes in Walcot in the 19th cent  both coming from Edward of Wootton Bassett. One branch Edward was a plumber operating from Dover Terrace and the other was George operating from Lower East Hayes who did a bit of plumbing but was also glazier, tiler etc. None of the family
 were grocers but one of George's sons William Blake was an upholsterer.”

Also a clipping from a Bath street directory helps to link these two men:

Further proof comes from a poor law examination:

“The following testimony is provided by John Blake [senior] about his son, John Blake [junior] to allow the Examiners to decide in which parish John Blake [junior] should receive parish relief. John Blake [junior] seems to have moved from Avebury parish in Wiltshire to Bath around 1808, (to judge from the dates provided by the settlement examination) to be apprenticed to his father’s two brothers George and Edward Blake, who were resident at Dover Terrace, Walcot. This family can be identified as the founders of the Blake Brothers business in Walcot.”

Poor law records for Avebury parish are held at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.

In the will Edward is referring to his brother John with regard to an annuity perhaps as a recompense for having John (John’s son) as an apprentice. I need to do some more looking up in the Bath directory to learn more about the Blake family at Walcot but I greatly appreciate all this information coming from a descendant of this Blake line.

There is one will for a Blake family at Wootton Basset in the Wiltshire Wills online – Richard Blake, Yeoman, 1800. P3/1800/25 As the correspondent has mentioned though there were a number of Blake families in Wootton Bassett. Of interest Wootton Bassett is just 6 miles from Wroughton, six miles from Swindon, eight miles from Ashton Keynes, 9 miles from Avebury and 9 miles from Calne.

 Correcting an error on my part posted earlier, George Blake married Hester Miller who was from Wroughton. They married in St Mary's Chapel Walcot|:

No. 806. George Blake of this parish a Bachelor and Esther Miller of this Parish a Spinster were Married in this Chapel by Banns this twenty-seventh Day of August in the Year One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight by me Gains Barry Curate.

Details for Hester Miller also from my correspondent: daughter of George Miller and Betty. Baptized on the 8th December 1769 at Wroughton, Wiltshire. Her sister Jane was baptized on the same day.

Thank you very much for the correction. Information most gratefully received.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 3 Dec 2013
Source: Somerset Record Office
Testator: Edward Blake, Plumber and Glazier
Place: Walcot, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 14 Oct 1837
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

1    This is the last Will and Testament of me Edward
2    Blake of the Parish of Walcot in the County of Somerset Plumber First I
3    direct all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid and
4    satisfied I Give unto my Brother John Blake an Annuity of two pounds
5    per Annum to be paid to him quarterly during his natural Life by my Executrix
6    herein after named I Give the Sum of three Shillings Weekly and every Week unto
7    and towards the maintenance of the Children of my late Daughter Elizabeth
8    Jennings for and during and until the youngest of such Children shall attain the age
9    of fourteen Years and to be paid and applied by my said Executrix for the benefit
10    of such Children accordingly. And subject thereto and charged therewith. I Give
11    Devise and Bequeath All and singular my Estate and Effects whatsoever and
12    wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever which shall or may belong to me
13    at the time of my Death Unto and to the use of my Daughter Emma Keyes (the
14    Wife of John Keyes of Bath Carpenter) her Heirs Executors Administrators and
15    Assigns for her and their own absolute benefit for ever. And I nominate and
16    appoint the said Emma Keyes sole Executrix of this my Will  And I hereby
17    revoke and make void all former Wills and Codicils by me at any time
18    heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal
19    this fourteenth day of October in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight
20    hundred and thirty seven – The Mark and Seal X of Edward Blake The
21    Testator Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the
22    said Edward Blake the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament
23    in the Presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of
24    each other have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses the same having been
25    previously read over and explained to the said Testator W B Lidiard Bath
26    Thomas Evans 2 Brunswick St S Frederick Billington 8 Dover
27    Place Bath

Will of Elizabeth Buller, Widow, Holles Street, Clare Market, Middlesex - The National Archives PROB 11/1787/229

Elizabeth Buller is the Testator. Perhaps her marriage is to George Buller 1794 at Stoke Newington, Middlesex (Society of Genealogists, Find My Past). Interesting to have a George Buller as this is quite a common forename in the Somerset Buller family.

Her sister Mary married John Douglas 14 Jun 1795 at All Saints Church, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. They baptized three children at Gainsborough: Thomas Douglas 9 Jul 1796 and 1 Dec 1797 and Eliza Douglas 12 Sep 1818.

Her sister Sarah married Isaac Mundy 17 Aug 1806 at All Saints Church, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. They baptized four children at Gainsborough: Thomas Munday 10 Feb 1810, Margaret Munday 24 Dec 1814 at Gainsborough, Elizabeth and Ann Munday 29 Jan 1820 at Gainsborough.

Her sister Ann married Abraham Evans 9 Feb 1800 at St James, Piccadilly, Middlesex. This was Marriage #39 and they were both of the parish and married by banns and they both signed the Parish Register and witnesses were Samuel Evans and Faney Evans.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 24 Feb 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1787/229
Testator: Elizabeth Buller, Widow
Place: Holles Street, Clare Market, Middlesex, England
Date of document:  17 Dec 1830, probated 28 Jul 1831
Read: Electronic copy images
Document quality: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Elizabeth
[Margin]: Buller


1    This is the last Will and Testament
2    of me Elizabeth Buller of Holes Street Clare Market in the County of Middlesex
3    widow I direct all my just debts funeral and testamentary expences to be fully paid
4    and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give to my dear
5    Sister Mary Douglas Wife of John Douglass of Gainsborough in the County of
6    Lincoln the sum of One hundred pounds for her separate use independently of
7    her husband I also give the like sum of One hundred pounds unto my dear
8    Sister Sarah Monday Wife of Isaac Monday of Gainsborough aforesaid Tailor for her
9    separate use independently of her husband and in case of the decease of either of my
10    said Sisters in my life time I direct that the said Legacies shall not lapse but shall
11    be paid to their respective personal representative and I direct that the said
12    Legacies shall be paid within six months after my decease I give all my Linen
13    wearing Apparel Trinkets and Ornaments of the person whatsoever unto my Sister
14    in Law Elizabeth Robinson Wife of my Brother Thomas Robinson of Holles Street
15    aforesaid hair dresser and as to all the Rest Residue and Remainder
16    of my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever I direct my Executor hereinafter
17    named to convert into money such parts thereof as may not consist of money and I give
18    one moiety thereof unto my said Brother Thomas Robinson for his absolute use and
19    benefit and in case he shall depart this life in my life time I give the same moiety
20    to Elizabeth Robinson his wife for her absolute use and benefit and as to the other
21    moiety thereof I give the same unto my said Brother Thomas Robinson and to
22    Samuel Pett of Upper Clapton in the said County of Middlesex Esquire who has
23    consented to act as my trustee for the purposes hereinafter mentioned Upon trust
24    the interest and dividends thereof unto my Sister Ann Evans Wife of Abraham
25    Evans of Park Street Islington in the County of Middlesex Gentleman for the term
26    of her natural life for her separate use independently of her husband and not to be subject
27    to his debts controul or engagements and for which her receipt alone shall be a sufficient
28    discharge to my said Trustees and after the decease of my said Sister Ann Evans I give the
29    said moiety of my residuary personal Estate unto my said Sisters Mary Douglass and
30    Sarah Monday in equal proportions share and share alike for their separate use and
31    benefit independently of their respective husbands and in case of the death of either of
32    them the said Mary Douglass and Sarah Monday in my life time or during the life of my
33    said Sister Ann Evans then I direct that the share of her so dying shall be equally
34    divided between her children and I hereby declare that my Executor and Trustees or
35    either of them shall not be answerable or accountable the one for the other of them or for the
36    acts of the other but each only for the money that shall actually come to his hands and the acts
37    they shall not be answerable for any loss which may happen by placing any part of
38    such money in any Bank of Bankers hands for safe custody or otherwise without his or
39    their wilful neglect or default and I declare it to be my wish to be Buried in the
40    Burying Ground of the New Grave Pit Meeting House at Hackney and I hereby appoint
41    my said Brother Thomas Robinson Executor of this my Will and revoking all other Wills
42    by me made I declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said
43    Elizabeth Buller the Testatrix have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and
    [Page 2]
44    seal this twenty eighth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty Elizabeth
45    Buller Signed sealed published and declared by the said Elizabeth Buller the
46    testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence at
47    her request and in the presence of each other attest the same as Witnesses the words "Mary"
48    and "Sarah" in the preceding page being first written on Erasures Fras: Pett Hitchin
49    Thomas Emery
50    Proved at London the 28th July 1831 before the Worshipful Jesse Addams Doctor of Laws
51    and Surrogate by the Oath of Thomas Robinson the Brother the sole Executor to whom Adm[inistrati]on
52    was granted having been first sworn duly to administer